Vehicle of transport to be pulled by an overhead cable and installation comprising a vehicle of said type

ABSTRACT

Vehicle of transport designed to be pulled by an overhead cable, including an attachment device to attach the vehicle to the overhead cable, a hanger arm extending along a longitudinal axis and connected to the attachment device, a support connected to the hanger arm, the vehicle including at least two chairs suspended on the support and situated one behind the other according to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the support delimiting a space open towards the outside and situated underneath the at least two chairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to transport by overhead cable, and moreparticularly to installations of overhead cableway type and to thevehicles of these installations.

STATE OF THE ART

A large number of chairlifts are currently used to transport passengersto elevated locations and most of them are fairly old. A chairlift is atransport installation equipped with chairs suspended on an overheadcable, which acts as both carrying and hauling cable. At present, thetransport capacity of a chairlift is limited to eight passengers perchair. Chairlifts do however further offer a wide panorama but do notprocure strong sensations and thrills on account of the fact that theyare located at heights which are rather close to the ground for reasonsof safety standards.

Overhead cableways are on the other hand cars which are able totransport more than eight passengers at greater heights than those ofchairlifts. An overhead cableway is a transport installation equippedwith overhead hauling cables and carrying cables, and the cars aresuspended above the ground by means of the overhead cables. Modernoverhead cableways exist where the cars are mounted so as to be able torotate around a vertical axis of the car so as that all the passengersare able to discover an exceptional panorama overlooking the surroundinglandscape. The rotation is however slow if the discovery of thelandscape is to take place in total safety with a maximum of comfort.These overhead cableways are further generally used in winter and arenot used, or hardly used, in summer.

A requirement therefore exists to use the overhead cableways in summerwhen the passengers can no longer go skiing, and more particularly topropose overhead cableways which provide thrilling sensations and whichcan be used both in summer and in winter.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention consists in remedying these shortcomings,and more particularly in providing means for creating thrillingsensations for the passengers transported by overhead hauling cable intotal safety.

According to one feature of the invention, a vehicle of transportdesigned to be pulled by an overhead cable is proposed, comprising anattachment device to attach the vehicle to the overhead cable, a hangerarm extending along a longitudinal axis and connected to the attachmentdevice, a support connected to the hanger arm, the vehicle comprising atleast two chairs suspended on the support and situated one behind theother according to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The support delimits a space open towards the outside and situatedunderneath said at least two chairs.

The passengers are thus suspended in mid-air and their field of visionin the downwards direction is not obstructed, which means that theyexperience strong sensations, in particular in the case of vehicleswhich are pulled at great heights above ground level.

The support can delimit two lateral openings which pass through towardsthe outside and are situated respectively on the lateral sides of thevehicle.

The support can further delimit two front and rear openings which passthrough towards the outside and are situated respectively at the frontand at the rear of said at least two chairs.

The vehicle can comprise a protective structure of said at least twochairs mounted on the support.

The protective structure can comprise a base forming a frame around saidat least two chairs and cylindrical members connecting the base to thesupport.

Each chair can comprise a harness pivotally mounted on the chair betweena raised position in which access to the chair is allowed and a loweredposition to provide protection of a passenger seated on the chair.

The vehicle can comprise a rotary chair mounted rotating on the support.

The vehicle can comprise a tilt system configured to move the rotarychair in rotation with respect to a reference position of the rotarychair.

According to another feature of the invention, an installation oftransport by overhead cable is proposed, comprising at least one vehicleas defined in the foregoing.

The installation can comprise a station equipped with a floor movablebetween a retracted position in which the vehicle enters the station anda deployed position in which the floor is situated underneath said atleast two chairs of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from thefollowing description of particular embodiments of the invention givenfor non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment ofa vehicle and of an installation of transport by cable according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of an installation oftransport for which the floor is in a retracted position; and

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a side view of the installation oftransport of FIG. 2 for which the floor is in a deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An installation 1 of transport by overhead cable 2, comprising at leastone vehicle 3, has been represented in FIG. 1. In general manner, theoverhead cable is a hauling cable 2 on which the vehicles 3 are attachedin order to be pulled. The installation 1 is preferably an overheadcableway comprising a support structure, for example one or morecarrying cables 4, 5. The vehicle 3 comprises an attachment device 6, ahanger arm 7 and a support 8. The attachment device 6 is configured toattach the vehicle 3 to the overhead hauling cable 2. The attachmentdevice 6 can be a carriage equipped with a fastener to attach thecarriage to the cable 2 and with wheels to run on the carrying cable orcarrying cables 4, 5, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As a variant, theattachment device 6 can be a fixed grip, for attachment of the vehicle 3to the overhead hauling cable 2 in permanent manner, or a detachablegrip to attach the vehicle 3 in removable manner. The hanger arm 7 isattached to the attachment device 6, and extends along a longitudinalaxis L. The support 8 is connected to the hanger arm 7, at an end of thehanger arm 7 opposite the end to which the attachment device 6 isconnected.

The vehicle 3 further comprises at least two chairs 9 to 13 suspended onthe support 8 and situated one behind the other according to an axisperpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The axis perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis L extends in the direction Y in which the vehicle 3moves when the latter is pulled by the hauling cable 2. Advantageously,the vehicle 3 comprises at least two rows of chairs situated one behindthe according to the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, soas to increase the capacity of transport of the vehicle 3. Each rowfurther extends along a horizontal axis when the vehicle 3 is at astandstill. A vehicle 3 comprising chairs 9 to 13 arranged in five rowshas been represented for example purposes in FIG. 1. In particular, thechairs 9 to 13 are of bucket seat type, i.e. individual chairs with abackrest engaging the passenger's hips so that the passenger is firmlyensconced in the chair. Each chair 9 to 13 preferentially comprises aharness 30, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, pivotally mounted on the chair9 to 13 between a raised position, illustrated in FIG. 3, in whichaccess to the chair 9 to 13 is allowed, and a lowered position,illustrated in FIG. 2, to provide protection of a passenger seated onthe chair 9 to 13. Each chair 9 to 13 can further be equipped with arestraining bar 31, pivotally mounted between a raised positionillustrated in FIG. 3 and a lowered position illustrated in FIG. 2 so asto immobilise the passenger's legs. In particular, the harness 30 isshaped so as to protect the passenger's torso by securing the latterbetween the backrest and the harness 30 when the harness 30 is in thelowered position. It is also possible to design a specific protectionharness that can secure both the passenger's torso and legs, and in thiscase the restraining bar 31 is no longer necessary.

More particularly, the support 8 delimits a space 14 open towards theoutside and situated underneath the chairs 9 to 13. This space 14enables the chairs 9 to 13 to be suspended in mid-air. The passengersare thus suspended in mid-air without any floor obstructing their fieldof vision. Such a vehicle 3 procures sensations that have never beenexperienced previously and that are more thrilling than anythingexperienced with a closed car of a traditional overhead cableway. Inparticular, the open space 14 does not comprise any windows, or severalopenings allowing air to circulate. Unlike the state of the art, thisvehicle 3 is not a car as it does not have a floor situated underneaththe chairs 9 to 13. When the vehicle 3 is pulled in mid-air, ittherefore creates thrilling sensations, as the passengers have anunobstructed field of vision over the landscape situated underneath thechairs, i.e. under their feet.

Preferentially, the support 8 also delimits two lateral openings 18, 19which pass through towards the outside and are situated respectively onthe lateral sides of the vehicle 3. In other words, the vehicle 3 isdevoid of side walls, i.e. the sides of the vehicle 3 do not compriseany windows, or several openings allowing air to circulate. The support8 can further also delimit two openings, a front opening 20 and a rearopening 21, which pass through towards the outside and are situatedrespectively at the front and at the rear of the chairs 9 to 13. Thismeans that the front and rear of the vehicle 3 do not comprise anywindows, or several openings allowing air to circulate. In generalmanner, the lateral 18, 19, front 20 and rear 21 through openings resultin the outside communicating with a space situated underneath thesupport 8 where the chairs 9 to 13 are situated. Such a support 8enhances the thrilling effect as the passengers can have a completelyopen field of vision on the sides, at the front and at the rear of thevehicle 3.

In general manner, the support 8 is shaped to suspend the chairs 9 to 13on the hanger arm 7 of the vehicle 3. The support 8 can comprise a roofof parallelepiped shape provided with a top surface 16 equipped withfixing means connected to the hanger arm 7 to fix the roof on the hangerarm 7. The roof also comprises a bottom surface 17, opposite the topsurface 16, on which the chairs 9 to 13 are suspended. As a variant,instead of the roof, the support 8 can comprise a suspension structureformed by an assembly of bars or tubes forming a suspension frameconnected to the hanger arm 7 and to the chairs 9 to 13. Advantageouslythe support 8 can comprise a protective structure 22 of the chairs 9 to13 mounted on the support 8. The protective structure 22 enables thechairs 9 to 13, and thereby the passengers, to be protected when rockingof the vehicle 3 takes place, in particular when the vehicle 3 entersthe station or when the vehicle 3 passes over a tower. The protectivestructure 22 can be formed by cylindrical members, such as tubes, bars,full rods, or a combination of the three. What is meant by cylinder is asolid limited by a cylindrical surface generated by a set of parallellines, referred to as generatrix, pressing on a closed flat curve,referred to as directrix, and two planes cutting the generatrix.Preferably, the protective structure 22 comprises a base 23 forming aframe around the chairs 9 to 13. The frame 23 can be continuous ordiscontinuous. In particular, the base 23 is connected to the support 8by means of cylindrical members, preferably four tubes 24 situated atthe four corners of the support 8.

An advantageous embodiment which accentuates the sensation of thrillseven further has been represented in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, thevehicle 3 comprises at least one rotary chair 9 to 13. Preferentially,all the chairs 9 to 13 are rotary, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It can alsobe envisaged for certain chairs 9 to 13, or a single chair 9, to bemounted fixed on the support 8, for example chairs 9 to 13 intended forpassengers in charge of operation of the vehicle 3. For example, therotary chairs 9 to 13 are mounted rotating on the support 8 around axesparallel to an axis of rotation R. The axis of rotation R of the rotarychairs 9 to 13 can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of thehanger arm 7. Preferentially, the axis of rotation R is perpendicular toan axis of attachment A extending along the overhead cable 2. The axisof attachment A is an axis along which the hauling cable 2 extends whenthe attachment device 6 is attached to the hauling cable 2.Advantageously, the vehicle 3 comprises a tilt system 15, illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, configured to move the rotary chairs 9 to 13 in rotationwith respect to respective reference positions of the rotary chairs 9 to13. The rotary chairs 9 to 13 occupy their reference position when theirbackrests are vertical so that the passengers can seat, as illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 3. The tilt system 15 further comprises a set of gearscontrolled and configured to move the rotary chairs 9 to 13 in rotation.The tilt system 15 comprises hydraulic or pneumatic jacks, or electricmotors configured to control the gears. More particularly, the tiltsystem 15 is mounted on the support 8. As a variant, the tilt system 15is housed inside the roof of the support 8. The tilt system 15 can thusincline the rotary chairs 9 to 13 once the passengers are seated andbefore the vehicle 3 begins to move, and the tilt system 15 can thenreturn the rotary chairs 9 to 13 to their reference positions in orderto embark further passengers. Advantageously, the tilt system 15 canincline the rotary chairs 9 to 13 towards the ground. In other words,the backrest and seat of the rotary chair 9 to 13 are inclined togetherin the downwards direction so that the passengers are in an extremeposition with regard to the ground. This means that the field of visionof the passengers is directed towards the ground. This tilting enhancesthe thrilling sensations experienced by the passengers.

The installation 1 can further comprise a passenger loading station,illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a passenger unloading station, notshown for the sake of simplification. A station can comprise a floor 41mounted in movable manner in the station between a retracted position,illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the vehicle 3 is entering the station,and a deployed position, illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the floor 41 issituated underneath the chairs 9 to 13. In this way, when the vehicle 3approaches a station, the floor 41 is retracted so as not to obstructentry of the vehicle 3 into the station. Then, when the vehicle 3 is ata standstill in the station, the floor 41 is deployed underneath thechairs 9 to 13, and the passengers can disembark from the vehicle 3 andwalk on the floor 41 to a platform 42 of the station. The stationequipped with a movable floor 41 further comprises a mechanism 43 formoving the floor 41. For example, the mechanism 43 comprises jacksconfigured to retract and deploy the movable floor 41.

The installation and vehicle which have just been described above enablenew sensations to be created providing greater thrills than thoseprocured by traditional overhead cableways.

1. Vehicle of transport designed to be pulled by an overhead cable,comprising an attachment device to attach the vehicle to the overheadcable, a hanger arm extending along a longitudinal axis-and connected tothe attachment device, and a support connected to the hanger arm, thevehicle comprising at least two chairs suspended on the support andsituated one behind the other according to an axis perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis, and the support delimiting a space open towards theoutside and situated underneath said at least two chairs.
 2. Vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein the support delimits two lateral openingswhich pass through towards the outside and are situated respectively onthe lateral sides of the vehicle.
 3. Vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the support delimits two front and rear openings which passthrough towards the outside and are situated respectively at the frontand at the rear of said at least two chairs.
 4. Vehicle according toclaim 1, comprising a protective structure of said at least two chairsmounted on the support.
 5. Vehicle according to claim 4, wherein theprotective structure comprises a base forming a frame around said atleast two chairs and cylindrical members connecting the base to thesupport.
 6. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each chair comprises aharness pivotally mounted on the chair between a raised position inwhich access to the chair is allowed and a lowered position to provideprotection of a passenger seated on the chair.
 7. Vehicle according toclaim 6, comprising a rotary chair mounted rotating on the support. 8.Vehicle according to claim 7, comprising a tilt system configured tomove the rotary chair in rotation with respect to a reference positionof the rotary chair.
 9. Installation of transport by overhead cable,comprising at least one vehicle according to claim
 1. 10. Installationaccording to claim 9, comprising a station equipped with a floor movablebetween a retracted position in which the vehicle enters the station anda deployed position in which the floor is situated underneath said atleast two chairs of the vehicle.